Agenda and minutes

To receive any declarations of interest of a pecuniary or non-pecuniary nature from Members in respect of the items on this agenda.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meetings of the Council held on 23^rd and 30^th March 2023.

To consider any communications to be submitted by the Mayor or the Chief Executive.

To seek formal authorisation for the transfer of Proper Officer and Proper Officer’s Representative, which are statutory roles, to the Service Director of Law and Governance and the Elections Manager.

To consider any outstanding appointments or changes to membership on Regulatory Boards, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Outside Bodies following Annual Council on 19^th May, 2023.

To consider the following questions which have been received from Elected Members pursuant to Standing Order No. 11.

a)    Councillor McCarthy

Having worked hard with the residents, Safer Neighbourhood Team, Police, Schools and colleagues over a number of years it’s been very good news to finally hear that Vicarage Lane is to benefit from “The School Safety” programme. 

It’s now identified as a site to make changes to and benefit from funding available in the School Safety budget. 

For years we’ve been trying to resolve the parking issues on Vicarage Lane, and the traffic team, after listening to these concerns have come up with a set of proposals to help alleviate the issues. They are currently looking at the restrictions they can use to enable proactive enforcement, which will be put in place once the consultation with residents and the legal process is complete.  

When do when do we expect the consultation and legal process to be complete? 

b)    Councillor Smith

Council will be aware that for many years I have raised the important issue of flood risk in Low Valley and the Darfield Ward on numerous occasions, in a number of meetings and forums. Not only does flooding have a devasting impact upon the residents and businesses that are directly affected, but it also prevents those who use our roads network and public transport from doing so. 

Could the Cabinet Spokesperson please advise on the schemes that have been completed and those that are planned, with expected dates and an explanation of how they will minimise flood risk? 

c)    Councillor Lofts

The works for the Dodworth Road Improvements also gave rise to the proposal to install a footbridge from Penny Pie Park over the railway line to Pogmoor. This will be beneficial to children going to and from school, will better link the communities of Dodworth & Pogmoor and make accessing sports facilities easier for all. 

Could the Cabinet Spokesperson please offer an update on timescales for construction and completion? 

d)    Councillor Shepherd

The Council’s levelling up application for the Heritage Centre would have given a welcome boost to our already impressive cultural offer, but more important would have been the skills and economic uplift arising from the scheme. 

As we all know the bid was unsuccessful and this served to underline that the government’s beauty contest approach to levelling up and securing capital investment to be woefully inadequate. 

I will continue to push for this investment and would wish to ask the Cabinet Spokesperson if this is an ambition shared by him and what plans there are to secure such investment in ?